Aeroplane.



J. T. SIMPSON.

AEROPLANE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 5, 1910.

Patented May 26, 1914.

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Inventor Witnesses y 44%.,

Attorneys.

J. T. SIMPSON.

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1910.

1,098, 129, v Patented May.26, 1914.

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' Witnesses} i g 7 4- MT M M$-Q JOHN THOMAS SIMPSON, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

AEROPLANE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN THoMAs SIMP- SON, a citizen of the United States, and

residing in Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invehted a certain new and useful Aeroplane, of which the following is a. specification.

The object I have in view is the production of an aeroplane, or heavier-than-air flying machine, which will possess advantages in stabilizing, steering, balancing, and which will be light, rigid and strong, and relatively simple. These and further objects will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings, considered together or separately.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 1*- is a detail side view showing the rudder in twisted position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the horizontal rudder. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the horizontal rudder. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modification of the stabilizing devices for the main planes. Fig. 7 is a plan View showing the modification of the auxiliary, tail or balancing plane; and Fig. 8 is a detail plan View of the mechanisms for warping the tail in two directions.

In all of the views, like parts are designated by the same reference characters.

' In carrying out my invention, I provide a frame or chassis 1. The details of this frame or chassis I preferto make substantially the same as that disclosed in the specification and drawings of my patent, granted March 25, 1913, and numbered 1,056,844. The only dilference in the frame in the present case is that certain parts are of different shape from those shown in my patent, but the method of building it I prefer to make the same.

In the drawings, 2 represents the motor, 2 the fuel tank, 2 the gage, within sight of the aviator, to indicate the quantity of fuel in store, 2 starting crank within reach of aviator, 3 the propeller, 4.- the "front wheels, 5 the rear wheels, 6 the mainplane,

. and 7 the auxiliary, tail or balancingplane.

While I show the device so made as to progress with the main plane in the front, it is apparent that certain portions of the invention can be utilized with devices in Specification of Letters Patentr Application filed April 5, 1910. Serial No. 553,622.

Patented'May 26, 1914.

which the main the rear.

planes and propeller are at 1 One feature of my invention consists in the means for stabilizing. This I accomplish by using small auxiliary planes 8, 8, attached to the mainplane for increasing its superficial area. In Fig. 1 these auxiliary planes are shown as pivoted at 9, close to the body and chassis, and they, extend out to the tips of the main plane. The plane is box-like in shape and is hollow, as top and bottom skins, with a supporting framework and with openings in which the auxiliary planes lie when folded up. These auxiliary planes are moved by mechanism, which includes a link 10 (see Fig. 1), attached to the frontedge of each auxiliary plane, and also attached to a bar or rack 11. This rack 11 is moved by being engaged with a pinion 12, such pinion being rotated by suitable devices, such for instance as those shown in my co-pending application before referred to, for the purpose of moving the main plane. The two auxiliary planes are so connected together by the mechanism described that as one is folded into the main plane, the other is expanded forward.- This will have the effect of increasing the area of the main plane on one a side of the center of the machine at the same. time it is decreased on the other.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modification in which the auxiliary planes 8, 8 are pivoted so as to lie on the outer edges of the main plane 6. The balancing plane 7 is mounted in the rear of the chassis, and is rigidly secured at its front end to the chassis, but is free at its rear end, and is so airanged that it can be flexed upward or downward, and at the same time can be twisted about its longitudinal axis, both movements being for steering and stabilizing, as will be described. The details of construction of this plane are as follows.

' tervals, as shown at 16, so, that it will pos sIess the necessary fiexibilityto be bent.

framework thus described is covered at the top and bottom with a skin or envelop of flexible material. The plane is flexed in an;- upward or downward direction by means tive cross members 14, so as to twist the latter, and the wire is rigidly attached to the free extremity of the plane, while the bight of the wire passes over a pulley 19. When the cross member upon which the sprocket 17 is mounted, is rotated, the rotary motion will be transmitted to the other members and tip, thus curving the plane, and warping it upward or downward. The movement will be augmented owing to the decreased leverage resulting from the vertical members toward the tip being shorter than those toward the base. As shown in the drawings, there are two trusses 32, 32, one on each side of the frame or chassis. The sprocket 17 is rotated by means of a chain 20, which is connected to wires 21, which lead to a suitable operating device 22 within reach of the aviator. A device described similar to that described in my co-pending application, may be used for this purpose. As shown in the drawings herein, it comprises an arrangement of sprockets and a circular rack, the

sprocket being rotated by a longitudinal movement of the operators wheel shaft.

In addition to the movement described, the balancing plane may be twisted by a movement at right angles to the direction just described. Fig. 1 illustrates the said balancing plane or rudder in twisted position. This is attained by means of a sprocket 23, secured to one of the cross-members 14 on a plane at right angles to the sprocket 17 and in line with the longitudinal center of the balancing plane. A chain surrounds this sprocket 23, and suitable wires lead from the chain to a device within reach of the aviator. By drawing in and slacking out these wires, the sprocket 23 is turned, tilting the member 14, as shown in Fig. 5., The movement of this member will be transmitted to the other portions of the plane by means of the edge member 15, which by being kerfed, as described, will flex to the necessary extent. The forward end of the balancing plane being rigidly secured to the chassis, as described, will cause all of the plane except its forward edge to twist. Both movements can be accomplished at the same time, if desired.

In order to steady the device when in flight, I provide a fin 24. A vertical rudder 25 may be used, if desired, but I do not regard this rudder as essential, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to a structure which employs such a. rudder. The modifidamage to the propeller.

cation of the balancing plane is shown in Fig. 7, in which it is provided with small auxiliary planes 20, which are operated in the same manner as the planes 8, 8, and at the same time therewith, or at different times, if desired. The front wheels are carried upon skids or shoes 27. Each skid comprises a lower member 28, and a flexible support 29, and a rigid support 30. The shock caused by landing is taken up by a shock absorber 31, interposed between the shoe 28 and the frame of the chassis. The rear wheel 5, which is used for steering when on the ground, is turned by means of the wire 32, which is also connected to the rudder 25 and is operated by a bar 33 within reach of the feet of the aviator.

From the description it will be apparent that according to my invention there will be produced an aeroplane which can be conveniently stored in an ordinary automobile garage. already set up and ready and arranged so that it may be driven or moved to the place of flight. The device is so compact and narrow that it may be used in acity street or, crowded place. All of the machinery being mounted in front of the aviator, there will be lessened danger to him and to the passengers, and the machinery will be within convenient reach for adjustment, and the engine may be cranked during flight by means of a crank 2. By means of the controlling gear illustrated, the steering and stabilizing can be done with one hand, leaving the other free to manage the engine. The landing skids in front are so far forward that they lessen the shock in landing and prevent The shock absorber 31 also saves the jar on the engine. The device can be stabilized without the use of the vertical rudder, solely through the warping of the plane 7 The arrangement by means of which stabilizing is secured by gradually increasing one side of the main plane while decreasing the other side without changing the angle of incident .with respect to the longitudinal axis, is important, as it does not change the direction and does not make it necessary to utilize the vertical rudder for'this purpose. An advantage of the flexing plane 7 is that it can be elevated or lowered at the same time as it is being flexed, thus avoiding slowing down for turns but allowing the machine to adjust itself on the turns.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that the invention can be carried out in other ways.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis A 1. An aeroplane having a main sustaining plane and an auxiliary, plane on each side of the center of the aeroplane, and connections betweenthe two auxiliary planes for moving one in and the other out synchronously, beyond the rear edge of the main plane.

2. An aeroplane having a main sustaining plane and an auxiliary plane on each side of the center of the aeroplane and shielded by the latter when in retracted position and means for moving an auxiliary plane outward beyond the rear edge of the main plane'to increase the area of the main sustaining plane on one side of the center more than on the other side, without movingthe other auxiliary plane to a similar position.

3. An aeroplane having a main sustaining plane and an auxiliary plane pivoted on each side of the center thereof for increasing its area and means for moving an aux iliary plane, beyond the rear edge of the main plane, without moving the other auxiliary plane to a similar position.

4. An aeroplane having a main sustaining plane, and an auxiliary plane pivoted to each side of the center thereof, said auxiliary planes being pivoted adjacent to the moved from the tip of-the plane, and means for moving an auxiliary plane to a position beyond the rear edge of the main plane,

rear edge of the plane and at a point re without moving the other auxiliary plane to a similar position.

5. An aeroplane havlng a main sustaining plane, an auxiliary plane on each side of the center of the main plane and shielded by the latter when in retracted position, a pivot for each auxiliary plane, removed from the tips of the main plane, andmeans JOHN THOMAS SIMPSON.

Witnesses:

LEoNAnoH. DYER, JoHN L. Lo'rsoH. 

